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Sudden Cardiac Arrest ........SCA........ can happen to anyone........ at any time. Even someone in the prime of their life and who has no prior health conditio....ns that would suggest the likelihood of an SCA event. On June 27 Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone, at any time. Even someone in the prime of their life and who has no prior health conditions that would suggest the likelihood of an SCA event. http://www.medicfirstaid.co.nz/blog/sca-survivor-spreads-the-word/

This blog is intended to provide us all with a chance to appreciate the unsung heroes who serve our communities answering and dispatching 111 calls. These call takers work in stressful environments and are often verbally abused by those making 111 calls the very people they are trying to help. Despite this they get up each day and go to work so that they are there to answer the phone when we need them the most. They along with the bystander providing first aid at the scene are an integral part of the chain of survival required to save a life.

With longer days and warmer weather just around the corner, many of us are thinking about spending more time working outdoors on our gardens and lawns. Before you grab the edge-trimmer or load up the wheelbarrow, take a moment to ensure you’re following some best practices for safe yard work.
Here are some helpful tips to remind homeowners that now is the time to make sure your equipment is ready to go:

Do you suffer from allergies? If so, you’re not alone, with estimates as high as 1 in 3 Kiwis suffering from all kinds of allergies (seasonal, environmental and contact) combined (1). Other sources approximate the number of hay fever sufferers to be about 20% of the total population of New Zealand (2).

When people are injured or suddenly fall ill, the scene around them is often chaotic. Concerned bystanders, family members and emergency services personnel are all reacting and responding to the incident simultaneously, and the incident scene itself may pose dangers. An emergency care provider knows to put his or her own safety first, even before the safety of an ill or injured person.

A well-coordinated team approach with defined roles is just as important as high-quality skills for high-performance CPR. What goes into making a successful emergency team for an improved response to a sudden cardiac arrest incident?